Nurse prescribing in specialist mental health (part 1): the views and experiences of practising and non-practising nurse prescribers and service users

Non-medical prescribing is a relatively new competency that appears to benefit both service users and health professionals alike. However, little is known about its use in mental health settings. This single case study in one UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust aimed to look at these views and consider how the role can be developed further in light of this. Six service users and two nurses trained in nurse prescribing were individually interviewed. One trained nurse had been prescribing for the last 3 years; the other was trained but had never practised. Service users reported that nurse prescribing was more convenient and less anxiety provoking, an issue of particular importance for optimizing mental health services. Offering choice was deemed important; however, for some service users, information about why medication may be beneficial was highlighted as an unmet need in the prescribing process. The practising nurse prescriber described her experiences and credited a good structure of supervision and support from the team. Reasons why trained nurse prescribers may not be practising are discussed, with suggestions for future developments and guidance. This competence appears to work well in a mental health setting when conducted in a supported and structured way.